Wedding Cake Cookies

Photo courtesy of Mother of The Bride

Wedding cake cookies? Why not? Stack your cookies to make pretty individual wedding cakes for your guests. Decorate with icing and some fondant flowers. Add some jam between layers just a like a real wedding cake. Is this a do it yourself project? It all depends on your level of competence doing cake (or in this case cookie) decorating. These cakes make a nice wedding favor for your guests to take home and enjoy. And remember, edible favors are among the favorite wedding favors with guests. 

Fortune Cookie Favors

Photo courtesy of Cutest Food website

 

Fortune cookies are the perfect favors for your upcoming bridal shower! The folks at the website Cutest Food have some adorable pink and white fortune cookies, perfect for you wedding or shower. They offer a variety of fortunes perfect for your perfect day, like "Owl always love you."

 

Cookies come in white with pink hearts or pink with white polka dots, as well as pink with white hearts or white with pink polka dots. Assorted colors available.

 

Don't want to purchase fortune cookies from a big company? Why not make your own? DIY weddings are a huge hit these days so why not consider making your own wedding favors. These are sure to entertain your guests as well as taste good.  You can also pack them up so they can take some home with them.

 

YouTube has a variety of videos that can show you different ways to make them for your party. Sounds like a fun night to me!

 

Video from YouTube

Food For Favors

Photo courtesy of "How Sweet It Is"

There are a lot of ideas out there for food favors, everything from cookies to candy to more extreme ideas like Tabasco sauce (with the name of the bride and groom on it of course!)

For a new taste treat try marshmallows. No, not just any marshmallows like you'd use for s'mores. No these sweet treats are the creation of Jessica, the author and creative genius behind "How Sweet It Is" a blog for anyone who loves food, eating it, creating it, or hates the aftermath of working off the calories or cleaning the kitchen. Jessica has something for everyone. And not only that, her cooking is pure genius!

For your wedding favors Jessica has provided you with a recipe for homemade marshmallows. And not just any marshmallows. And not just any chocolate covered marshmallows. And not just any chocolate covered marshmallows with pretzels on top. But BEER flavored chocolate covered marshmallows! Ah! Now there's a wedding favor with a difference.  

Just bag those sweet eats up and add a pretty tag you make yourself or order from an Etsy artist. 

Jessica points out her inspiration for these incredible lightly tasting of beer and pretzels treat at the bottom of her blog. "Source: idea from an ad seen in Food and Wine, then a quick google search led me here; marshmallow recipe from smittenkitchen, subbing beer for water; flattening beer instructions from here." 

Don't want to have to go through the mess of making your own beer marshmallows and dipping them in chocolate and pretzels? You can buy them online at Truffle Truffle.  There's always an easy way out if you aren't a DIYer!

Mint Fudge Brownie Parfaits--DIY Wedding Favors In a Jar

(This in Kristan's (of Confessions of A Cookbook Queen) Great Photo! And using those disposable spoons and twine and recyclable jars are just more reasons to recommend this for Eco-friendly brides!)

Desserts in a jar...hmmm...not messy, easy to transport, show off your creativity, yes I think that all adds up to a great idea for a wedding sweet table or wedding favor for the DIY bride.  I've seen many versions of these on the web but the one that makes my mouth water is by Kristan at Confessions of a Cookbook Queen.  (use that link to find this recipe (with yet more photos as well as the exact recipe) and other creative ideas Kristan offers her readers on a regular basis!)  Also don't forget you could use peppermint flavoring with some red food coloring for a wedding with a pink theme.  It's all in the details ladies!

Think how much your guests will enjoy both the taste and presentation of this well thought out gift from you and your new spouse.  Now head over to Kristan's blog for more great ideas to make your mouth water!

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Bars for Sweet and Salty Favors

Recipe and Photo courtesy of Eliazbeth at http://guiltykitchen.com/

Now that you've fallen in love with the photo, here's the easy to follow recipe for these to die for bar desserts.  Perfect for your sweet table or to give as favors for your guests.  To quote Elizabeth at Guilty Kitchen as to why they are called Idle Hands Bars "idle hands are the Devil’s playground and the Devil definitely made me make these, because they are sinful. Eat your boring, chocolate heart out, Devil’s Food Cake!"  So chocolate and peanut butter lovers you owe Elizabeth a huge debt of gratitude for your new favorite dessert!

Idle Hand Bars

Base Layer

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1/4 cup sugar

5 Tbsp. Cocoa

1 egg, beaten

1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs

3/4 cup coarsely crushed pretzels

1. In double boiler (or a bowl resting over a pot of lightly simmering water), melt the first three ingredients.

2. While still over water, add egg and beat to combine (will thicken quite a bit here). Remove from heat and add crumbs and pretzels.

3. Press into an 8 x 8 cake pan. Set aside.

Middle Layer

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly.

2/3 cup powdered sugar

1 cup smooth, natural peanut butter (no salt added, reduce salt accordingly if using salted)

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1. Add peanut butter and butter together in small bowl.

2. Mix in sugar, salt and vanilla to form a thick paste.

3. Dump onto base layer and smooth over, patting down to make a flat, even layer.

Top (final) Layer

5 oz. Semi Sweet Choclate chips (or other fine chocolate)

1 Tbsp unsalted butter

Pink Himalayan salt (or other fine sea salt)

1. In double boiler (or microwave), melt butter and chocolate chips together. Stir until complete dissolved and smooth.

2. Pour over peanut butter layer and spread out evenly.

3. Cool in fridge for about 5 minutes (should still be slightly soft on top but not warm).

4. Sprinkle, lightly, with Himalayan salt. Return to fridge (or freezer, if you’re in a hurry like I was), and let cool completely to become hard.

5. Cut into small squares and don’t say I didn’t warn you….these things are addictive.

You can freeze these too, might make them last longer and would let your make them ahead of time for a wedding.

DIY Kid Friendly Favors

Photo and Idea from Offbeatbride.com DIY section

If you're having children in your wedding or as guests at your wedding, you might want to provide kid-friendly favors. These DIY favors are courtesy of http://offbeatbride.com/. Gwenab on The Offbeatbride's site gives you the specific directions as well as links to the sites she learned how to make these from under the DIY section of the site. Lego actually has a ice cube mold (go to http://shop.lego.com/). You can use this to make crayons in the shapes of lego men! Kudos to you Gwen! Great idea and execution! Other suggestions included stars and other fun shapes.

Photo and product from http://shop.lego.com/

Fans for Your Wedding Day

Photos and products courtesy of: http://www.daisy-days.com

Fans are used for a variety of reasons during a wedding, some act as wedding reception menus, some as a program of for your wedding ceremony, and some just to keep cool on those warmer days in the sun for outdoor weddings or for churches that aren't air conditioned.  There are some beautiful ready made fans but also some that are great DIY projects.  Find the fan with the look and purpose you want or make your own.  We did some for my daughter's wedding, it was an easy DIY  project mostly requiring time, not complex at all or needing fancy equipment. 

Photos and products courtesy of: http://www.daisy-days.com

Photos and products courtesy of: http://www.daisy-days.com

Photos and products courtesy of: http://www.daisy-days.com

Cake Balls?

Photo courtesy of: http://www.bakerella.com

Cake balls are just what you’ve been waiting for — bite-size bits of moist cake blended with rich frosting, surrounded in a deliciously beautiful confectionery coating. An exciting twist on cupcakes and a sophisticated alternative to traditional desserts, it’s no wonder why they’ve become such a sweet sensation. The Cake Ball Company started making our decadent, hand-made cake balls long before they became a dessert trend. Combining tried and true family recipes with the finest ingredients, our cake balls are a one-of-a-kind experience. Go ahead, indulge. Just know that you won’t be able to stop with just one. But don’t worry, we’ll make more.

Photo courtesy of: http://www.littleheavenlybites.com/

Photo courtesy of: http://www.littleheavenlybites.com

Photo courtesy of: http://angiescake.com

A History of Jordan Almonds

Photo courtesy of http://www.ilbelloitalianfavors.com/

Sugared Jordan Almonds, also known as confetti or dragees are a candy favor that is used as a wedding favor.

The origin of confetti comes from ancient Rome where births and marriages were celebrated with a form of confetti.  However up until the time of the Renaissance confetti were made from honey.  It was only with the introduction of sugar cane in the fifteenth century that modern confetti were born.  The 'modern' era confetti were real sweetmeats made from dried fruits, cinnamon, pine nuts, hazelnuts, almonds and candied fruits.  These were served at many important banquets.

The first literary reference to confetti was in Boccaccio's Decameron in the early 1350's.  The common use of it was recorded from the late middle ages to the Reanissance.  In the mid-1400's there is a reference to a wedding banquet for Lucrezia Borgi and Alfonso D'Este, son  of Ercole I, Duke of Ferrara, where more than two hundred and sixty pounds of confetti were consumed.  (My stomach aches just thinking about it!)

Photo courtesy of http://www.confettipelino.com/

 

In the 18th and 19th centuries the use of confetti spread throughout Italy.  And the first modern confetti factories were begun in the region of Abruzzo, which has remained the confetti capital ever since.  In 1783 it became known as the confetti capital due to the skill of a single family according to a simple recipe that remains unchanged today. 

Photo courtesy of DIY Bride

Many modern brides still give confetti as wedding favors, some electing to make their own, others purchasing them from one of the many companies that sell pre-made wedding favors.

Lazertran Waterslide Decals Can Turn Any Object Into a Work of Art

(Photo Courtesy of Sweet Paul's Blog at http://sweetpaul.typepad.com/)

Want to make a personal favor for your wedding? Look for projects using Lazertran Waterslide Decals. You can use these great decals to put your artwork or photos almost anywhere. You can transfer photos or artwork (art can be scanned or digitally produced). Make coasters, candles, bowls, vases, glasses anything you can think of!

This revolutionary new product lets you transfer any design to almost any surface with incredible results. You can use Lazertran by inkjet or photocopying your color images onto Lazertran paper, then just heat set or seal the toner or ink, cut it to the correct size, soak and slide onto your project. Smooth out air bubbles and let dry for a day.

If you want to transfer the image to a fabric just iron on the decal, let it cool off, and then soak it until the paper falls away.

Lazertran make three types of waterslide decals. The original Lazertran was designed to work with dry toner color and the decals are applied to hard surfaces. If you don’t have a laser printer, this means having color copies made at your local copy center or finding a friend with a laser printer. Take the package instructions with you in case the copy center personnel object to printing on your Lazertran paper.

Because most transfer papers are heat-activated at fairly low temperatures and the glues can melt and jam the copier some copy centers may not want to do the job. However, Original Lazertran, is specially designed to be used with color copiers. The film and glue won't melt when run through the hot copier.

For hard surfaces, the company has introduced Lazertran Inkjet; now you can make decals using your desktop inkjet printer. Lazertran Inkjet has some special qualities or quirks. There are some trade-offs for the convenience of being able to print decals on your inkjet printer in the comfort and convenience of your own home.

Lazertran Silk was made for closely woven fabrics. Like the Original Lazertran, Lazertran Silk is designed to work with dry toners.

Unlike Original Lazertran, Silk does not have a thin film that carries the color to its new home, so it’s not technically a decal. Rather Lazertran Silk is ironed onto the silk or other closely woven fabric. The iron’s heat melts the toners and deposits them onto the fabric. Since there is no decal film and no gooey glue, the original hand and softness of the fabric are preserved.

Lazertran Silk has no glue to gum up the copier’s works. Still a good idea to take the package instructions with you to the copy center, in case there are any questions. Lazertran Silk decorated fabric is washable if the fabric itself is.

(Photo Courtesy of Sweet Paul's Blog at http://sweetpaul.typepad.com/)

(Information on using Lazertran from http://www.theartfulcrafter.com/ and Sweet Paul's Blog at http://sweetpaul.typepad.com/)

Other projects for Lazertran: http://www.stumbleupon.com/,